I've seen most of 2026's new robot vacuums, and these are the 2 models I can't wait to try

Two major robovac brands; two stunning new flagship bots

21 Jan 2026, 18:00 · TechRadar

News By Ruth Hamilton published 21 January 2026

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I saw dozens of new robot vacuums at CES 2026, and many of them had particularly eye-catching features. There was a robot with actual legs for striding up and down stairs and over uneven terrain. There was a robot vacuum that could turn into a manual vacuum, and back again. There was even a robovac that could apparently help you find your lost keys. And that's alongside stair-climbing robovacs and this bot with an arm that can reach for detail tools, both first unveiled at IFA in September 2025.

While all those things are certainly impressive, most aren't quite market-ready yet, and some – dare I say it – might ultimately fall into the 'gimmick' category. In terms of robots that I'd actually want in my home, two new models stood out from the crowd.

They both come from major brands that have popped up time and time again in my best robot vacuum ranking. Both brands are known for making reliable, user-friendly, and effective cleaners that are elevated with the addition of innovative but also genuinely useful new features.

Here's why the Roborock Saros 20 and Dreame X60 are my hot tips for the best new robot vacuums of 2026.

Roborock Saros 20

The Saros 20 is the successor to the hugely popular Saros 10R. It keeps everything we loved about that older version, but introduces a couple of significant updates that help level it up. The main one is an upgraded 'AdaptiLift' system. This is essentially all the tech surrounding the little feet that can lift the robot up away from the ground.

The Saros 20 will be able to climb over even taller room thresholds than its predecessor. I saw it tackle a massive double step in the Roborock demo area at CES, and while it did come down with a bit of a bump, it was still impressive to behold. If you have high room thresholds in your home, this improvement could make all the difference.

(Image credit: Future)

There's a second trick related to the AdaptiLift feature: it can now hold the robot at a range of preset heights. This means it can hover at just the right height over a thick carpet or rug, cleaning it efficiently without getting stuck.

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